News On The Horizon 3/20/2016

The Morning Dish – Friday, March 19, 2016--Hoopville

Side Dishes
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Given the chance to host an ACC school for the first time ever, Valparaiso handled Florida State 81-69 in the NIT second round to move within one game of a trip to New York. The Crusaders moved to 2-0 all-time against the Seminoles in the second round of postseason tournaments, as Valpo also defeated FSU in the 1998 NCAA second round.
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What appeared to be a bitter situation at Wisconsin-Milwaukee came to a seemingly inevitable end Thursday when Rob Jeter was let go as the Panthers’ coach. UWM finished 20-13 this year but did not participate in a postseason tournament due to the decision of athletic director Amanda Braun, who was very pointed in comments stating she didn’t feel the team deserved to be in the postseason. Jeter had a 185-170 record in 11 seasons at the school and led teams to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and 2014 and ran a solid program despite working for six athletic directors in his tenure.
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Today’s Menu:
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Other excellent games include Northern Iowa against Texas, Oregon State vs. VCU, Syracuse meeting Dayton, a highly anticipated Notre Dame/Michigan matchup, and watch out for Wisconsin-Green Bay against Texas A&M, as the Phoenix and their up-tempo style very well could give the Aggies fits.

WSU post players not comfortable with upper hand (+video)--Wichita Eagle

WSU’s attack seems to come at teams in waves up front. The Shockers start three forwards — Evan Wessel, Morris and Zach Brown —and bring forwards Markis McDuffie, Anton Grady and Kelly off the bench, with sophomore Rauno Nurger also picking up big minutes in the last two games.

“They’re a very good team,” Jekiri said. “Don’t sleep on them. They will make you pay.”
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Something else that’s crucial? WSU’s forwards have very little focus on scoring points and none average in double digits. Not that they don’t like to score — McDuffie can get baskets in bunches, Grady has a good mid-range game and Morris is fierce at the rim —it’s just that their minds are elsewhere.

“Defense is what we are,” Morris said. “Defense is what we do.”

Wichita State relies on lessons learned from departing stars to carry youngsters into next season--Wichita Eagle

WSU basketball ended an era on Saturday and soon the on-court work of replacing Baker, VanVleet, Wessel, Anton Grady and Bush Wamukota begins. After Saturday’s game, assistant coach Isaac Brown gave McDuffie and sophomore forward Rashard Kelly fist bumps on their way to the team bus and told them “Be ready to work.”
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Darral Willis, a 6-foot-8 forward from Pearl River (Miss.) Community, must replace the productivity of Grady. While Morris and Grady teamed up for an inside presence that was adequate most nights, that position could use an upgrade if the Shockers expect to continue their NCAA Tournament success.
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With Baker, Grady and VanVleet gone, the Shockers lose three key scorers from a team that shot 42.9 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from behind the arc. Those are the lowest marks since Marshall’s first team shot 41.7 percent from the field and is second team made 32.2 percent of its threes.
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1. How will the Shockers score?

It is disturbing to consider Wichita State’s scoring struggles against some of the top teams this season, and then consider that Ron Baker, Anton Grady and Fred VanVleet won’t return. WSU needs several scorers to emerge. It could start with Shaq Morris playing more minutes and newcomer Darral Willis adding offense from the post.

Records Fall in Memorable Season for Women's Basketball--detroittitans.com

UIC lands Canadian guard Boahen--The Catch and Shoot

Rushed Reactions: #3 Texas A&M 92, #14 Green Bay 65--Rush The Court
No. 3 Texas A&M makes light work of No. 14 Green Bay--CollegeBasketballTalk
Day 4 Picking The Lines--Basketball Predictions

Green Bay (+13.5) over Texas A&M: This game has the potential to be ugly, as both teams do a good job of forcing turnovers. "Tempo" is the single most over-used narrative in basketball, but it could be a factor here. Green Bay likes to drive the pace as quickly as then can and get easy transition buckets, but they struggle in a half court offense. Texas A&M likes to grind out defensive possessions. If Green Bay can up the pace and have the advantage in fastbreak points, they could win this game outright.

House leads Texas A&M to opening 92-65 win over Green Bay--CBS Sports
2016 NCAA Tournament First Round Preview: Green Bay Phoenix vs. Texas A&M Aggies--Mid-Major Madness
Green Bay can't sustain fast start, lose 92-65 to Texas A&M--Mid-Major Madness
WATCH: Green Bay opens NCAA Tournament game with breakaway dunk--The Catch and Shoot
Green Bay sent packing in NCAA Tournament First Round--The Catch and Shoot
2016 NCAA Tournament: Texas A&M vs. Green Bay Preview--Good Bull Hunting
Phoenix's RP40 philosophy is worth buying into--Green Bay Press Gazette
UWGB falls to Texas A&M 92-65--Green Bay Press Gazette
UW-Green Bay has prospects in the pipeline--Green Bay Press Gazette
Lew Wallace grad Charles Cooper helps Green Bay reach NCAA Tournament--The Post-Tribune
Texas A&M Too Big for Green Bay in NCAA Tournament--GreenBayPhoenix.com

UWGB women fall to Tennessee in NCAA tourney--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Ends Season in NCAA Tournament, Falls to Tennessee--GreenBayPhoenix.com

Nighthawk Returns: a Cleansing Purge--PantherU

Postseason at ARC--The Torch
Reality check for men's basketball--The Torch
Crusaders move on to third round of NIT--The Torch

Postseason Accolades Roll in for Valpo WBB Incoming Freshmen--valpoathletics.com

SPORTS DAILY: Wright State AD Grant channels his inner Steinbrenner on Donlon firing--Dayton Daily News
Wright State announces firing of Donlon--Dayton Daily News
WSU makes Donlon firing official--Dayton Daily News
Wright State officially fires Billy Donlon--The Guardian
Wright State Making Men's Basketball Coaching Change--wsuraiders.com

YSU’s Andrews plans to transfer--Youngstown Vindicator
Tough break--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle

YSU women advance to WBI semifinals--Youngstown Vindicator
YSU moves on in WBI--Mahoning Valley Tribune Chronicle
Penguins Beat UMBC But Lose Benjamin--The Jambar
Penguins Drain 15 3-Pointers in WBI Quarterfinal Win Over UMBC--ysusports.com

Phoenix Can't Speed Up Aggies; Run Ends in NCAA Tournament--Horizon League Network

Green Bay Ends Season in NCAA Tournament, Falls to Tennessee--Horizon League Network
Youngstown State Advances to WBI Semifinals--Horizon League Network